**Executive Summary**
The Government has revised the startup recognition framework under the Startup India Action Plan to strengthen innovation, deep tech, and cooperative-led enterprises. Key changes include raising the turnover eligibility limit for startups to ₹200 crore, introducing a dedicated category for "Deep Tech Startups" with an increased age limit of 20 years and turnover limit of ₹300 crore, and including cooperative societies as eligible entities. These revisions aim to foster a more inclusive environment, facilitate long-term capital flow, and position India as a global innovation hub.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Enhanced Turnover Threshold for Startup Recognition:**
* The turnover limit for startup recognition has been increased from ₹100 crore to ₹200 crore.
* **Introduction of Deep Tech Startup Category:**
* A new sub-category for "Deep Tech Startups" has been introduced for entities working on cutting-edge technologies.
* For Deep Tech Startups, the age limit has been extended from 10 years to 20 years from incorporation or registration.
* The turnover limit for Deep Tech Startups has been enhanced to ₹300 crore.
* **Inclusion of Cooperative Societies:**
* Startup recognition eligibility has been extended to cooperative entities.
* Multi-State Cooperative Societies and Cooperative Societies registered under State and Union Territory Cooperative Acts are now eligible.
* Eligibility is subject to fulfillment of other applicable criteria.
**Impact Analysis**
**Startups**
* **Impact:** Increased eligibility for recognition due to higher turnover limits, especially for deep tech startups with extended age and turnover limits.
* **Action Required:** Review eligibility criteria and apply for recognition if applicable.
**Deep Tech Startups**
* **Impact:** Dedicated category created with more favorable eligibility criteria (age and turnover limits).
* **Action Required:** Review the new sub-category criteria and apply for it if applicable.
**Cooperative Societies**
* **Impact:** Now eligible for startup recognition, potentially unlocking access to various startup benefits.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with other applicable criteria and apply for startup recognition.
**Ministries and Departments**
* **Impact:** Alignment of policies and programs with the revised startup recognition framework.
* **Action Required:** Integrate the revised criteria into relevant policies and programs.
**Investors**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to invest in a broader range of startups, including deep tech and cooperative-led ventures.
* **Action Required:** Adjust investment strategies to capitalize on the revised framework.
Key Entities Referenced
Startup India Action Plan: A government initiative to promote startups and build a conducive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in India.
Deep Tech Startups: A new sub-category of startups focusing on cutting-edge and breakthrough technologies with extended eligibility criteria including age and turnover limits.
Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002: The act under which Multi-State Cooperative Societies are registered and are now eligible for startup recognition.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Government Revises Startup Recognition
Framework to Strengthen Startup India Action
Plan
Support for Innovation, Deep Tech and Cooperative-Led
Enterprises Strengthened
Revised Startup Framework Raises Turnover Eligibility Limit
to ₹200 Crore
For Deep Tech Startups, age limit increased to 20 years and
turnover limit increased to ₹300 crore
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 8:20PM by PIB Delhi
The Government has revised the startup recognition framework to further strengthen the Startup India
Action Plan and advance the Prime Minister’s vision of positioning India as a global innovation
powerhouse, a manufacturing-led economy, and a hub for emerging technologies. As Startup India enters
its second decade, the revised framework seeks to provide a more predictable, inclusive and future-ready
policy environment for founders, while facilitating the flow of long-term patient capital into high-
technology and research-intensive sectors.
Key revisions to the startup recognition criteria are as follows:
Enhanced turnover threshold for startup recognition:
Keeping in view the evolving startup ecosystem and the need to support enterprises at different stages of
their business lifecycle, the turnover limit for recognition as a startup has been increased from ₹100 crore
to ₹200 crore.
Introduction of a dedicated category for Deep Tech Startups:
A new sub-category of “Deep Tech Startup” has been introduced for entities working on cutting-edge and
breakthrough technologies. The core attributes of Deep Tech Startups have been finalised through
consultations with line Ministries, Departments and ecosystem stakeholders to ensure clarity, consistency
and objective identification. In recognition of the long gestation periods, high research and development
intensity, and capital-intensive nature of deep technology enterprises, the eligibility criteria for this
category have been expanded, with the age limit extended from 10 years to 20 years from the date of
incorporation or registration, and the turnover limit enhanced to ₹300 crore.
Inclusion of cooperative societies as eligible entities:To promote innovation-driven growth at the grassroots level in agriculture, allied sectors, rural industries
and community-based enterprises, startup recognition eligibility has been extended to cooperative entities.
Accordingly, Multi-State Cooperative Societies registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies
Act, 2002, as well as Cooperative Societies registered under State and Union Territory Cooperative Acts,
are now eligible for startup recognition, subject to fulfilment of other applicable criteria.
The revised framework follows extensive consultations with stakeholders across the startup ecosystem, as
well as with various Ministries and Departments. The updated criteria are expected to expand access to
startup benefits for research- and innovation-driven enterprises, provide targeted support to deep tech
ventures requiring extended development timelines, enable cooperatives to drive innovation in agriculture
and rural development, and further strengthen India’s position as a global hub for high-technology and
knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship.
***
Abhishek Dayal/Garima Singh/Anushka Pandey
(Release ID: 2224069) Visitor Counter : 1293
Read this release in: ही